Future Forecast: Mobile Gaming

Warning: file_get_contents(): php_network_getaddresses: getaddrinfo failed: Name or service not known in /home/supposeuryj3ejs/public_html/blog/wp-content/plugins/digg-digg/dd.class.php on line 759

Warning: file_get_contents(http://feeds.delicious.com/v2/json/urlinfo/data?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blog.moby1.co.uk%2F2010%2F12%2Ffuture-forecast-mobile-gaming.html): failed to open stream: php_network_getaddresses: getaddrinfo failed: Name or service not known in /home/supposeuryj3ejs/public_html/blog/wp-content/plugins/digg-digg/dd.class.php on line 759

If the latest update about the rumored Sony Ericsson gaming handset has some smart phone fans disappointed, it simply goes to show that the casual gaming market is not yet prepared to take on the hardcore gaming industry seriously.

Sure, there are now plenty of downloadable games and content that are huge; take the previously released Splinter Cell Conviction and the Rage HD mobile app games, installing both would eat up almost a full gigabyte of storage. But compared to the lower spec Sony Playstation Portable’s high end games, that space is nothing –Tekken 6, Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker and DJ Max Portable all reach up to a hefty 1.5 GB, individually.

If the day comes when mobile gaming starts getting hardcore titles, it would require one of two important factors: a combination of very fast internet connection and plenty of internal storage, or a smart phone that actually supports commercial media storage like the UMD.

As for game quality, many casual gamers are already awed and impressed with sloppy conversions of Resident Evil 4, Medal of Honor, Splinter Cell or the equally shallow gameplay of titles like the upcoming Infinity Blade. Despite being easily accessible on the iPad and the iPhone, these game apps are simple point and click activities. Even hardcore titles like Megaman end up becoming broken due to the inaccurate controls.

Games made for pure touch screen controls will never match up to those that require a physical game pad, and with the Sony Ericsson Android gaming smart phone coming, it might just pave the way for industry. In any case, while the quality of game apps may not improve by much at all, it has been estimated that in about 5 years time, mobile gaming’s revenue will be rising all the way up to 7 billion Pounds.